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Offline pelican717

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Old Powder
« on: February 06, 2014, 12:47:27 AM »
I have a chance to pick up some Blue Dot powder for my pistol calibers, 38/357, 9, 45acp & 45colt. The seller says they are sealed and have been stored properly. However the labels are at least 3 generation old. I started reloading about 2004-5 and used Blue Dot, the  last I got had a newer label, so this is at least 3 generations old.
Do you guys think it is still usable? Thanks for any advice you can give as this is the only BD I can find right now, and will be about $50 a pound.
Thanks, Robert
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Offline gypsyman

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Re: Old Powder
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2014, 03:22:01 AM »
If it's still sealed, should be good. Only powder I had go bad, was some surplus Hogden powder. When I bought it, it was labeled $7.99/lb. Used about 1/2 the can, didn't work out, so put it on the back shelf for at least 15 years. Gave it to a friend of mine that wanted to try some different powders. He told me later, when he opened the can, had a real bad smell to it, so he dumped it. When you open it, smell it. Good powder, doesn't have a real heavy ammonia type smell. gypsyman
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: Old Powder
« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2014, 04:37:03 AM »
I have and use powders that are older than I am regularly!!!

The sniffer usuall can tell the tale as gypsy pointed out to you. Also watch for "dust" it will look like smoke coming out of a can.  I have also seen the cans breaking down so snatch for that too.

But as stated if properly stored they will last a long long time if not Indefinitely.

Ooh one other thing. DONT MIX IT WITH DIFFERENT CANISTERS!!!  Some powders have changed if you go back far enough nearly all have some change and mixing could be bad! Start at starting load and work up.

CW
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Offline bilmac

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Re: Old Powder
« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2014, 06:10:56 AM »
I bought some Red Dot at an estate auction that was so old that the dots had almost disappeared. I ran a thread here and old timers told me this was common. The powder still works good.

At the same sale I bought 4831 in the original US goverment cans. Hodgen started its business selling surplus powder from WW2. We used to buy it cheap back in the 60s. It was good powder then, now it is another 50 years older. When I handle this powder it leaves a tiny bit of red dust behind on my equipment. This is a sign that the powder is breaking down. This isn't supposed to make the powder dangerous only less efficient. I use it in my 270 because the price is right. It seems to perform about as well as when we used it in the 60s. In my 243 it makes my most accurate load.
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Offline Ranger99

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Re: Old Powder
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2014, 08:11:42 AM »
i still have and use old hercules
that i bought way back when.
as said above, it's all in the storage.
(one of the price tags says 6 something)
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: Old Powder
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2014, 08:20:25 AM »
FWIW , I have a can of Bullseye and one of Unique I picked up in 1975 or 76. It is still good.
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Offline Ranch13

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Re: Old Powder
« Reply #6 on: February 06, 2014, 08:21:33 AM »
Chances are pretty good that powder is just fine.
 What would concern me the most is someone trying to scalp me double the price of new powder for powder that old...  >:(
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Offline D Fischer

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Re: Old Powder
« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2014, 08:37:36 AM »
I have a bunch of Super Ballistite that's a heck of a lot older and it works fine if you can find data for it, I did find data.
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Offline pelican717

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Re: Old Powder
« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2014, 02:02:39 PM »
Thanks, guys. I will get that Blue Dot and give it the sniff test. It sure is handy to have such a huge resource of info, first hand user info on hand. This just makes this site invaluable, just superb!
Thanks, Robert
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Offline Old Syko

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Re: Old Powder
« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2014, 03:12:29 PM »
I would have no qualms about the age of the powder because I still use some powders that were manufactured before WWII but at $50 a pound they could shove it.  It's on the shelves here for less than half that.  Shoot, I have a few pounds of the stuff I'd be better off without myself since it's one of those I just have little use for.  Too erratic for my tastes.
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Offline bigvarmnt

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Re: Old Powder
« Reply #10 on: February 06, 2014, 03:42:51 PM »
I have some from about 1980, think it's still good, probably should look. I wouldn't pay that much for old powder or any powder.
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Offline twoshooter

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Re: Old Powder
« Reply #11 on: February 07, 2014, 05:10:10 PM »
It depends on how bad you want it I guess, but I can get Blue Dot here for &22 a pound or LESS. The old is no problem as others said, but OUCH!!  :o For $50 he should kiss you and leave a large tip. :-[
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Offline JustaShooter

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Re: Old Powder
« Reply #12 on: February 08, 2014, 02:19:50 AM »
Quote from: bigvarmnt on February 06, 2014, 03:42:51 PM
I have some from about 1980, think it's still good, probably should look. I wouldn't pay that much for old powder or any powder.
This, exactly - powder isn't like wine, it doesn't get more valuable as it ages!
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Offline gr8ful

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Re: Old Powder
« Reply #13 on: February 08, 2014, 04:31:51 PM »
$50 a lb??  :o that is twice what I just paid for new powder at Cabelas.  I would pass.
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